Laser marking apparatus and methods

ABSTRACT

PCT No. PCT/GB97/00497 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 24, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 24, 1998 PCT Filed Feb. 24, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO97/31324 PCT Pub. Date Aug. 28, 1997A method and apparatus for laser marking a moving workpiece such as a wire or cable directs a substantially constant rapidly pulsed laser beam at a frequency of at least 15 Hz towards a low inertia, low mass rotatable mask with character apertures disposed around its periphery. The mask is driven asynchronously to present successive characters with each pulse to form a composite image.



